It's easy to take our freedoms for granted. But it's also easy to not understand how we got here. My grandfather grew up in an era when Blacks and Whites used different restrooms and water fountains, and sat in different sections on streetcars. Juneteenth is a new holiday to me. But it has a long history.. I look forward to learning about how Juneteenth became a federal holiday in this upcoming graphic novel.
Here's all the info from Oni Press:
Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, is proud to announce a powerful new graphic novel – First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth – coming to comic shop and bookstores in February of 2026, 46 years after Juneteenth was first recognized as a statewide holiday by the state of Texas, and five years since its formal establishment as a federal holiday.
Charting the incredible journey and relentless courage of activist Opal Lee—known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth—to bring recognition of American Emancipation from local advocacy to state capitols all the way to the White House, this biographical graphic novel pairs acclaimed journalist, producer, and author Angélique Roché (My Super Hero is Black) with a trio of talented artists—including Alvin Epps (I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005: A Graphic Novel), Bex Glendining (the upcoming Indigo Port), and rising star Millicent Monroe – who each chronicle a different interlocking chapter in Ms. Lee’s own arduous life alongside the true struggles and travails of the millions of Black Americans who lived the reality of the first Juneteenth celebrations at the close of the Civil War in 1865 and the aftermath that would follow their children for generations to come.
From the 1860s to Ms. Opal’s childhood home and onward through her years as a teacher to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024, First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth seeks to give readers an insight into the history behind one of the most recognized figures in the creation of America’s newest federal holiday, Juneteenth.
“It doesn’t take much to see that the great-granddaughter of a runaway slave, born into Jim Crow and segregation, taught through integration and grew to be the grandmother of Juneteenth, has a story that needs to be told,” said author Angélique Roché. “All too often, the stories of African Americans and our communities are filled with devastating gaps and missing moments, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. The story of Ms. Opal Lee fills those gaps, highlighting everyday struggles and the critical moments between emancipation – that first freedom – and the hard-fought freedoms won since. From a farm in Texarkana, Arkansas, to the White House, Ms. Opal's life represents not just the power of one person but the collective strength of our movements.
“We’re honored to bring Opal Lee’s extraordinary story to life for a new generation through the creative vision of Angélique Roché, Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe,” said Polarity CEO David Steward II. “‘First Freedom’ illustrates how one voice can inspire meaningful change, chronicling Opal’s journey from grassroots activism to national recognition, elevating Juneteenth beyond a historical milestone. The graphic novel serves as a powerful testament to resilience, justice, and freedom—a narrative that embodies the values we aspire to share with our Oni readers.”
“While Ms Opal is known as a champion for Juneteenth and what it stands for, her lifetime commitment to service touches every aspect of her life,” added Roché. “From motherhood to the classroom, serving as a deaconess in her church, starting and maintaining a community food bank, breaking ground on an urban farm, providing educational scholarships, and creating opportunities for affordable housing, Ms. Opal shows how we can move mountains in the pursuit of ensuring freedom for all people, one step at a time.”
Born
in 1926, Opal Lee grew up in a racially divided America and dedicated
her life to overcoming the obstacles presented therein. A lifelong
educator, Ms. Opal has been a community activist all her life, and would
join the movement to celebrate and commemorate Juneteenth not just as a
holiday, but as a symbol of comprehensive freedom for all people. Ms.
Opal’s life personifies the resilience that leads to lasting change in
the hearts and minds of people. As the Grandmother of Juneteenth says,
“If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love.”
Discover the life of an extraordinary woman’s path through contemporary American history and the rarely told true story of the Juneteenth holiday itself in First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth – coming in February 2026 from Oni Press. For more updates on Oni Press, visit them on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram,
Now, let's take a look inside:
About The Creators
A. Angélique Roché, Esq. LL.M. is a journalist, producer, author, and professional host from New Orleans, Louisiana. A multi-hyphenate storyteller, her work sits at the crossroads of history, current events, and its impact on pop culture. She has been seen/heard on various outlets and platforms, including Harper’s Bazaar, NBC News, NBCBLK, MSNBC, AMC/BBC, SyfyWire, Disney, Marvel Studios, ESPN, and Paramount+. Angelique has hosted and produced multiple non-scripted series, including
Alvin Epps is an artist/illustrator known for his otherworldly aesthetic, blurring the lines between fine arts and digital arts media. He has worked creating cover art and visuals for comic books, graphic novels, album covers, film/TV, and animation. His work has been featured by publishers including Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, and Scholastic Inc.
Millicent Monroe is a graphic novelist who illustrates historical stories with an emotional core.
Bex Glendining is a biracial queer, UK based illustrator, comic artist and colourist. Their debut graphic novel Indigo Port is scheduled for a 2025 release with Abrams Books. When not working they can usually be found building miniature rooms, playing video games with friends or fussing Cookie, their very spoiled tortoiseshell cat.
About Oni Press
Founded in 1997, Oni Press has a 25-year history as one of the industry’s most respected and acclaimed publishers of award-winning comic books and graphic novels with titles including Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim, K. O’Neill’s Tea Dragon Society, Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt's The Sixth Gun, Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, Ezra Claytan Daniels' Upgrade Soul, Brenna Thummler’s Sheets trilogy, and many hundreds more. In 2019, Oni Press merged with Lion Forge Comics – the Eisner Award-winning independent comic book publisher founded by Academy Award-winning producer and entrepreneur David Steward II – to create one of the largest, independent libraries of comics content anywhere in media. The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group now exists as a publishing subsidiary of Steward’s diversified global media company, Polarity.
The First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth SC/HC
Editor: Megan
Writer: Angélique Roché
Artists: Alvin Epps, Millicent Monroe, and Bex Glendining
Cover artist: Alvin Epps
Format: Softcover
SC Price: $19.99 US/$26.99 CAN
HC Price: $29.99 US/$39.99 CAN
Page count: 192
Age range: General readers 16+
Full Color/Partial/B&W: Full color
Trim size: 6 x 9
ISBN: 978-1-63715-777-0
HC ISBN: 9781549307911
eISBN: 978-1-63715-778-7
On-sale date: 2/3
Sales territories: Worldwide
World rights: Yes
Copy:
The incredible journey of activist Opal Lee—known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth—is brought to life in this biographical graphic novel that not only explores Opal’s remarkable path, but the history of the holiday of Juneteenth itself.
From the 1860s to Ms. Opal’s childhood home, from her years as a teacher to the White House, The First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth seeks to give readers an insight into the history behind one of the central figures in the creation of America’s newest federal holiday, Juneteenth.
Born in 1926, Opal Lee grew up in a racially divided America and dedicated her life to overcoming the obstacles presented therein. A lifelong educator, Ms. Opal has been a community activist all her life, and would take on the movement to celebrate and commemorate Juneteenth not just as a holiday, but as a symbol of comprehensive freedom for all people.
Ms. Opal’s life personifies the fight for everyday freedom that leads to lasting change. As the Grandmother of Juneteenth says, “There is so much more to do.”
Written by acclaimed journalist, producer, and author Angélique Roché (My Super Hero is Black) and drawn by a trio of talented artists—including Alvin Epps (I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005: A Graphic Novel), Bex Glendining (the upcoming Indigo Port), and rising star Millicent Monroe—The First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth promises to illuminate the life of a singular woman and the history of a momentous holiday, with additional back matter providing more insights into Juneteenth’s history and the making of this graphic novel tribute.
Thanks to Superfan Promotions and Oni Press for sharing this announcement with us. Happy Juneteenth in advance, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment